 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-04-05 06:43
Looks like one of the Chinese bass clarinets that are mostly/completely the same. I recently tried a lot of them. This looks the much more common design for the low Eb bass (I saw two designs, one had the double register mechanism). I wasn't especially impressed. They are not yet at the level of Chinese saxophones or soprano clarinets IMO. It's definitely possible to play them and intonation can be ok, not as good as the best bass clarinets. I just didn't like to play them so much. Some of the keys had a lot of free play, surprising really considering how accurate some of the clarinets and saxophones are now. OTOH having an instrument is better than not having any instrument so I'm not sure what to recommend if this is your only option.
It's possible Berkeley asked the factory for specific features but these usually don't change the inherent way it plays. Examples can be type of pads, plating, etc. To ask for specific bores and tone hole configuration is uncommon unless working together with the factory which usually raises the price a lot for the importer. The Berkeley is one of the least expensive versions I've seen.
Post Edited (2010-04-05 06:48)
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Author: DWaugh
Date: 2010-04-05 18:52
I have been looking at the low C bass clarinets on Ebay lately. Have any of you tried the Vento or Orpheo models? The seller claims the Vento is a slightly better instrument than the Orpheo, but gave no details in what way they were better. I assumed it was because they are asking more for the Vento
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-04-05 20:50
> They're probably the same as the Gear4Music low C basses
..as in "You get what you pay for"?
--
Ben
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2012-10-06 12:47
As for the Orpheo vs the Gear4Music Low C Bass...they are not the same instrument. The Gear4Music pictures do not have the same right hand keywork as an Orpheo....nor do they have the same case. Now, I'm basing this answer on the picture provided in the link above from Chris P. The Gear4Music shows 6 keys for the right little finger. The Orpheo only has 5 keys for that same finger. The Orpheo comes in a hard case while the Gear4Music looks to be a Protec style soft side case.
I'm able to say this as I now have an Orpheo Low C Bass. I'm no tech...nor a professional player...but I'm a darned good amateur....so you may take my opinion/review with that in mind. My normal set up is an older wooden Leblanc, Fobes Nova Mouthpiece, Rover Dark Lig and Fibracell #3 reeds. The register mechanism on the Leblanc has given my tech fits....but he has it dialed in now to work properly. The Orpheo has a double register mechanism that also needs to be worked on at the moment. Granted, I just got the Orpheo and it needs to have some things tweaked...but I'm basing that on UPS shipping...they're NOT gentle with packages at all.
Fit & finish-the keywork is not weak or soft to the touch. I press the left little finger D and all the pads close properly. No leaks with the D, C# or C. The cork on the lower tenon of the long joint could be sanded down to ease the bell on, that's for sure. I had to align the Low C mechanism on the Bell and the left hand D to even try the thing out.
Intonation-the Orpheo has a 2 piece neck and I only pull out the lower section slightly to be in tune. I've checked the intonation top to bottom with a tuner and it's spot on with the neck pulled out slightly.
Case/mouthpiece/ligature-the Orpheo came with a hard side case with sections perfectly designed for minimal shifting. I have not tried the mouthpiece supplied with it...nor the ligature. The ligature really looks like a BG Tradition Ligature so I may try it out.
I'm still trying out the Orpeo, obviously...and will see how it "mixes" with the rest of my section in a rehearsal on Wednesday (a Selmer and a Buffet).
Initial impression of the quality is good....and for those of us that can't justify the money for a Selmer or Buffet Low C Bass, I'd say it's a good option.
If anyone is interested, I'll update this after a rehearsal or two..and several more practice sessions. Getting used to the left hand D is taking a little time, obviously.
I know some people will "protest" the Low C Bass...especially since I also have a Contra Alto. The community group that I play with is doing several pieces that have notes below the standard Eb range of the Bass. Not just for this concert cycle, but most every concert we do. Will I use the Orpheo exclusively? Probably not. But it's nice to have that option.
For what it's worth, I also have a Taiwanese made Buescher Bari Sax. While I have some notes that are out of tune on the Bari, I've played it enough to know how to play them in tune just fine. I use that Bari in a big band full time..and as a sub with another big band. I'm also using it for a 9 piece saxophone ensemble.
Even if the Orpheo is not what some of you would choose, the cost and temperature/humidity changes/idiots in a pit orchestra (NON woodwind players, of course) do have some bearing on my choice. As others have said, manufacturing has improved in recent years in the Far East...I probably would have NEVER considered an Orpheo a few years ago...but now, I consider it a viable option
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-10-07 14:46
We need Consumers Reports to buy up, oh, maybe 20 or 30 different 'brands' of Chinese-made low-C bass clarinets currently on the market (I'm sure there are at least that many), and report on (a) how many of them are identical to each other except perhaps for trivial design details; (b) how faithfully the designs are copied from Yamaha, Buffet or Selmer-Paris models; (c) how well they're constructed and most importantly; (d) how do they sound and tune in each register?
Anybody here on the BB work for Consumer's Union? Let's make it happen.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-10-07 17:42
David Spiegelthal wrote:
> Anybody here on the BB work for Consumer's Union? Let's make
> it happen.
If Consumer Reports stayed true to form the actual report wouldn't be published until a year or so after the models they reviewed went out of production.
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2012-10-08 00:56
I tried the Vento A basset clarinet and found it to be abysmal. That disinclines me to try any of their other products.
Klarnetisto
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2012-11-10 13:20
See my initial impressions above about the Orpheo Bass as compared to the Gear4Music.
After a month...I have an update........
I did take the Orpheo to my normal tech to have the register key worked on. After 9 days, his reply was "I never want to see that thing again". NOT the words I wanted to hear, obviously. I knew the 2nd left finger (D key) was not opening back up..the key was sluggish. I knew the register key was out of whack as well. I ended up sanding the corks myself to ease assembly...that and extra cork grease worked fine for assembly. I put a rubber band around the D key.....but continued to putz with the spring. A simple realignment of the spring remedied that problem...remove one rubber band. I also put a rubber band around the Bb Key....vent key....lower register key. While that fix remedied the leak I had for the register key, it made the middle Bb sharp and weak sounding. So I decided to take the Orpheo to rehearsal that Wednesday night. The young lady playing the Buffet Low C next to me couldn't believe the sound I was putting out of the Orpheo. Maybe part of that was the new Fobes San Francisco mouthpiece I had. During break, however, something happened to the Bass and it wouldn't play a single note. In a hurry, I grabbed my Leblanc and finished rehearsal. Over the following weekend, I tried the Orpheo again...it worked fine with my rubber band fix. We had a concert this past weekend and I used the Orpheo. The Leblanc was there...JUST in case. But I never used it....the Orpheo did a fine job for the entire concert. With the referral from a friend, I tried another repair tech last night. He aligned the register key, replaced the pad on that Bb key...but still wasn't happy with the sound. He found 3 pads that weren't seating correctly and fixed them. We both play tested the Orpheo and it just sings.
I KNOW there are people/players and techs that don't want to work on the Chinese or Taiwanese imports...but the tech last night agreed that their quality has improved over the years. I spent 2 hours in his shop while he worked on the Orpheo and got it dialed in...I only wish I'd found him sooner. Granted, part of that 2 hours was spent working on a Bb clarinet that needed some repair, too. NOTHING like getting to a gig and having the bottom tenon and bell come off the instrument! A previous repair of which I was unaware...but he said that work was excellent...just needed to be reglued..which he did.
The Orpheo truly is a viable Low C option for those (like me) that can't afford a Selmer or Buffet Low C. While some may scoff at my desire to have the Low C, I play in a really excellent community band and a lot of the literature we perform is modern and DOES call for notes below the normal Eb.
Now...the mouthpiece that came with the Orhpeo is only good for a door stop. Unmarked generic piece that I just can't stand. I never tried the "looks like a BG" ligature as the Rovner Mark III with the Fobes San Francisco mouthpiece works perfectly well for me.
I will be glad to update this as time goes on and my use of the Orpheo continues...as I hope it will.
I do not have access to a Yamaha or any other "lower end" Low C Bass to compare the Orpheo. I know the key layout is different from the Buffet and Selmer models...but can't compare it to anything else. Needless to say, there aren't a lot of Low C Basses in my area available for "comparison shopping" in the stores.
Thanks for letting me offer my opinion/input.
Mark T.
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